Judged in confidence, writers including Jim Crace, Aminatta Forna and Pankaj Mishra only learn of their lucrative honours as they are awarded
'Rediscovered passion for fiction' … Jim Crace. Photograph: Eamonn McCabe
The announcement of the second annual Windham Campbell literature prizes has brought shock and joy to eight authors around the world, with writers of fiction, essays and drama suddenly finding themselves $150,000 (£90,000) richer.
Selected by a prize jury from nominations assembled with the help of Yale University, the winning authors had no idea their work was under consideration for the award until organisers informed them of the award.
The Sierra Leonian-British novelist Aminatta Forna, cited by the panel for revealing "the ongoing aftershocks of living through violence and war", thought at first it was a prank.
"When the email with news of the award arrived I showed it to my husband, I said: 'It's a hoax, surely?' Well, it wasn't a hoax, rather it was just the best news," she said.
The Windham Campbell prize gives writers "what we most crave", she continued, "time to write, free from deadlines, financial pressures, the expectations of others".
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The winners
Aminatta Forna (Sierra Leone)
Nadeem Aslam (Pakistan)
Jim Crace (UK)
Pankaj Mishra (India)
John Vaillant (Canada)
Kia Corthron (U.S.)
Sam Holcroft (UK)
Noëlle Janaczewska (Australia)
Selected by a prize jury from nominations assembled with the help of Yale University, the winning authors had no idea their work was under consideration for the award until organisers informed them of the award.
The Sierra Leonian-British novelist Aminatta Forna, cited by the panel for revealing "the ongoing aftershocks of living through violence and war", thought at first it was a prank.
"When the email with news of the award arrived I showed it to my husband, I said: 'It's a hoax, surely?' Well, it wasn't a hoax, rather it was just the best news," she said.
The Windham Campbell prize gives writers "what we most crave", she continued, "time to write, free from deadlines, financial pressures, the expectations of others".
More
The winners
Aminatta Forna (Sierra Leone)
Nadeem Aslam (Pakistan)
Jim Crace (UK)
Pankaj Mishra (India)
John Vaillant (Canada)
Kia Corthron (U.S.)
Sam Holcroft (UK)
Noëlle Janaczewska (Australia)
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